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For more than two and a half hours, there was an eerie silence from Texas Republicans on the issue of same-sex marriage. The party of “traditional family values” watched and waited as Democrats cheered the Supreme Court’s decisions striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8.

“I am disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decisions today, as I believe marriage is between one man and one woman. Federal legal recognition should be reserved for traditional marriage, because that is what best protects our families and our children.”

Conaway was followed moments later by Texas Agriculture Secretary Todd Staples who, as a member of the Texas Legislature, was a leading supporter of anti-gay-marriage legislation.

“As author of the Texas Marriage Amendment, I find the Supreme Court’s decisions on traditional marriage to be the definition of absurdity. The ruling ignores the expressed will of the people in 37 states across the nation, and it once again proves our traditional family values are under attack.

“Fortunately, more than 75 percent of Texans approved the Texas Marriage Amendment at the ballot box in 2005, and it’s now protected in our state constitution. Despite these court decisions, I am thankful that Texas still has the right to define marriage as between one man and one woman. I remain committed to fighting on the front lines for the traditional family values Texans hold dear.”

“It’s important to recognize what this ruling does not do. It does not overturn state legislation that defines marriage as being only between a man and a woman. It simply requires the federal government to respect individual state laws regarding marriage in respect to federal benefits.

“I want to reiterate my belief that marriage is between one man and one woman and my commitment to protecting this sacred institution.”

Democrats were quick to praise the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage decisions. Democrats today hailed the decisions overturning the federal Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8. Republicans — at least in the first 90 minutes after the decision — remained offline.

And while we’re waiting for Texas Republicans, here’s the reaction of House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio:

“Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis and President Clinton signed it into law. The House intervened in this case because the constitutionality of a law should be judged by the Court, not by the president unilaterally. While I am obviously disappointed in the ruling, it is always critical that we protect our system of checks and balances. A robust national debate over marriage will continue in the public square, and it is my hope that states will define marriage as the union between one man and one woman.”